Aspecting the Goddess

Although it is only published today, I have already read Aspecting the Goddess twice. I suspect I will read again and again. The book, by Jane Meredith, teaches how to invite the Goddess into our lives in her many different aspects and in a variety of ways. Its subtitle is Drawing Down the Divine Feminine. Many witches and pagans talk about "drawing down the Goddess" - sometimes referred to as "drawing down the moon". The term usually refers to a rite of invocation in which we invite a specific deity to join us in mind and body, so that we merge for a brief moment. This enables us to speak the wisdom of that deity, but also allows us to experience their essence at least in some small way. It is an advanced skill and not usually recommended without considerable training. Aspecting the Goddess effectively breaks that training down into six stages: walking with the Goddess, researching her, dedicating to the Goddess, presencing her, enacting myth and finally aspecting the Goddess. Aspecting is essentially the same as invocation. This allows us to work with various goddesses - or gods - in a way that feels appropriate for us at that time. The book is beautifully written. Between the practical lessons are the stories of 12 goddesses: Persephone, Bloduewedd, Isis, Mary, Aphrodite, Ereshkigal, Nepthys, Freyja, Ariadne, Inanna, Eve and the Star Goddess. Jane offers her personal experiences of how these goddesses have influenced her life and how she has worked with them using the techniques she describes. I said I had read this book twice. I first read it more than a year ago. I proofread it before manuscript was finalised - and I loved it. I already loved Jane's earlier books Aphrodite's Magic and Journey to the Dark Goddess. I think this is my favourite of the three. Last night I started to read it again. I had been intending just to skim over the book to refresh my memory before writing my review, but I was drawn in by Jane's beautiful words. I read it late into the night and picked it up again early this morning. I should have been doing other things, but the pages seemed as though they all needed to be read - and the messages I got from the second read were different to those I got the first time round. That is surely the sign of a powerful and important book. ~ Bad Witch (Lucya), http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/05/review-aspecting-goddess-by-jane.html

In Aspecting the Goddess Jane Meredith combines skilful and engaging storytelling with easy to follow directions on a set of tools with which you may create deep and enriching personal relationship with the feminal divine. Aspecting the Goddess is a joy to read. Both accessible and fresh, this creative guidebook to crafting relationship opens the door to intimate and personal communion with the Great Goddess in Her many guises. ~ Lassara Firefox Allen, author of Jailbreaking the Goddess

Jane Meredith’s Aspecting the Goddess is a bold and unique look at connecting to myth and deity. While the book’s main intention is to help anyone gain a stronger and deeper relationship with the feminine divine it also offers an opportunity to look at the world itself with new eyes, to see everything around us as pieces of the Goddesses (and Gods) we are reaching out to. Designed as a journey, walking the reader through the process of connection on different levels with different Goddesses, this book feels both deeply personal and deeply spiritual. A valuable addition to any pagan’s library, whatever path you may follow, as it presents some wonderful food for thought and ideas for spiritual growth. Morgan Daimler, author of Pagan Portals The Morrigan and Brigid. ~ Morgan Daimler

One of the most compelling features of Paganism and Goddess spirituality is the direct experience of the Divine. Aspecting the Goddess provides a wealth of resources for those that are seeking a more profound connection to the Divine Feminine. Six different methodologies are described that allow you to find your way into experiencing and manifesting the Goddess in both your awareness, rituals, and in your perspectives on life. Although the focus is on Goddesses, the material presented is equally applicable to working with Gods as well as beings that are beyond gender. The book itself is like a journey that incorporates personal experiences, myths, stories, and practical magical advice. How far you go is up to you, and you may go further than you think ,because you will have the benefit of experienced guides that have gone before you. Ivo Dominguez Jr, author of Spirit Speak and Casting Sacred Space ~ Ivo Dominguez Jr

Aspecting the Goddess will inspire you, guide you, support you and help you connect in so many different ways with the divine in whatever shape or form you see it. This beautifully insightful book contains not only myths about goddesses from around the world but personal stories and experiences together with some really wonderful exercises, rituals and creative prompts to help you. Prepare yourself to be taken on a most amazing journey… Rachel Patterson, author of The Cailleach, Animal Magic and Kitchen Witchcraft. ~ Rachel Patterson

I loved the entwining of Jane's life experience with different forms of invocation and Aspecting of Goddess, demonstrating how drawing close to Goddess affects our everyday lives. Kathy Jones, Priestess of Avalon ~ Kathy Jones

This is a book about intense emotions, including grief, gradually being understood through working with the old myths. Parallels are suddenly clear from the evolving dramas that explain our own reactions and the behaviour of people. Aspects of Goddesses are shown to us through our interactions with them and how we can access them through creativity - however alien that may seem at first - and how profound the answers can be. Aspecting the Goddess offers reconciliation possibly, far greater comprehension of our lives probably, and, if we dare, an enthralling and rich Inner life almost certainly. There are sound chapters on the practical side of solo or group working and how one's own journey is always paramount and not deflected or confused by the presence of others. Geraldine Beskin, The Atlantis Bookshop ~ Geraldine Beskin